Medical Marijuana Where is the compassion?

Will Foster received parole in April 2001, due in part to your letters and support!

William Foster Rheumatoid arthritis patient sentenced to 93 years then reduced to 20 for medical marijuana cultivation   Will was a productive citizen who paid his taxes, served in the US Army, and had his own computer programmer/analyst business for five years. He, his wife, Megan, and their three children were leading ordinary lives in Oklahoma until he was arrested for using his medicine of choice. "We were a happy, typical family that had a life and had dreams, but the Tulsa Police Department had different ideas," Will wrote. Will has crippling rheumatoid arthritis in his feet, hips, lower back, and hands. He did not like the side effects of the drugs his doctors prescribed, which were mostly codeine-based and highly addictive. These drugs left him moody, tired and edgy, making it difficult for him to enjoy his family and perform his work. Will found that medical marijuana controlled the pain and swelling associated with his condition, so he grew his own medicine. On December 28, 1995, based on a secret tip from a 'confidential informant,' police entered the Fosters' home with a 'John Doe' search warrant for methamphetamine. They found no meth, and no evidence of meth or anything listed on the search warrant. What they did find was his basement garden - 66 cannabis plants - and $28 cash. Will refused to take a 'deal' and asked for a jury trial instead. However, he never had the chance to confront the witnesses against him, as the judge refused his Sixth Amendment right to do so. Furthermore, he was denied his Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure and nameless warrants. The prosecution poured on the pressure and the jury convicted him. He was sentenced to a total of 93 years - 70 years for marijuana cultivation, 20 years for possession of marijuana in the presence of a minor child (his own), 2 years for possession with intent to distribute, and 1 year for not having a tax stamp. In April 2001, Will made his parole. Thank you to all who wrote letters to the Parole Board and to Governor Keating in Will's behalf. He is currently living in California, and he is helping other prisoners with their cases. Please check out his web site at www.adoptagreenprisoner.org

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